What Is A Creatinine Test?

What High Creatinine Levels Mean

A normal creatinine level is typically below 1.3 milligrams per deciliter of blood in a male between eighteen and sixty years old, and below 1.1 milligrams per deciliter of blood in a female between these ages. A creatinine level that exceeds these values can indicate the patient is having problems with the way their kidneys are functioning. Other causes of a high creatinine level in the blood include a high protein diet, blocked urinary tract, kidney infection, reduced blood flow to the kidneys from shock, poor blood flow to the kidneys due to diabetes, congestive heart failure, and dehydration. When high creatinine levels are caused by acute kidney injury or chronic kidney injury, the level in the blood will not decrease until the underlying issue is resolved. Patients who have dialysis may have elevated creatinine levels before their treatment that decreases following their dialysis session.